"Mr. Lowell, I've heard some rumors these past few days."
Governor Rhonda raised her teacup, casting a deeply meaningful glance at Lao Chongyuan.
"Oh, don't worry, Governor Rhonda. Those four prisoners haven't made any trouble, and I've locked them up in the basement. No one will know about them."
"That's good. Sigh, the situation isn't looking optimistic. Did you hear? Qin has taken advantage of the last Yan-Zhao war to seize a lot of Zhao's territory. The chaos has been endless these past years. Even though our positions are lowly, things are not looking good for us."
Lao Chongyuan smiled. Many times, Governor Rhonda would talk to him about these matters. It was clear she was anxious, afraid that something would go wrong in Qi and she would be implicated.
"Don't worry, Governor Rhonda. I've already assigned extra guards to watch those four prisoners. I've also sent people to secretly investigate spies in the city. I'll take my leave now."
After bidding farewell to Governor Rhonda, Lao Chongyuan went to a shop and bought some fine wine. As soon as he returned home, he planned to go to the basement.
No one in the household understood what he was up to. He even had the kitchen prepare some good dishes to be sent down.
"Husband, those prisoners..."
"Don't worry about it. I know what I'm doing."
Lao Chongyuan felt a strong itch of curiosity. He desperately wanted to know about Xu Fu and the others. After going down, he immediately set out the wine.
"Want to hear the truth? The real story?"
Xu Fu's words instantly piqued Lao Chongyuan's interest, and he nodded.
Over the next three days, Xu Fu gradually told Lao Chongyuan his story, bit by bit.
"So you're saying, Qi's supposed plan to invade Yan was all a fabrication? You created this illusion yourself?"
Xu Fu nodded.
"That's right. But because of a meddler, it failed."
Mr. Oblivion clapped his hands from the side, laughing heartily.
"Is it really okay to tell this guy everything?"
"There's nothing wrong with it. But you, Mr. Lowell, aren't you going to talk about yourself? I've already told you our story. Shouldn't you tell us yours?"
Lao Chongyuan burst out laughing, his eyes wide as he stared at Xu Fu. The things he'd once imagined in his mind now matched perfectly with what Xu Fu said. He'd never experienced this before—the nature of evil, what it truly was.
"Why do people commit evil, Mr. Lowell? What do you think?"
"Some do it for money, some for fame, some just to survive. But you—your evil is pure interest. You don't even see it as evil."
"Mr. Lowell, do you understand what you're saying? Can you let us go?"
Xu Fu's words made Lao Chongyuan set down his wine glass and shake his head.
"If you can convince me, I'll let you go. If not, you'll just have to wait for death."
Mr. Oblivion suddenly stood up.
"Have you ever felt it? Twisting a person's neck—do you know what that's like? The crack of bone, a living soul snuffed out in your hands, the terror and trembling before death, all at once. The guilt at first—you've never felt that, have you?"
"No, I haven't. But if all you can offer is these experiences, it's not enough to convince me. Go on."
Lao Chongyuan sat cross-legged, arms folded, watching Mr. Oblivion ramble. After a long while, he smiled.
"I've heard enough of your twisted interests. A beast with no reason holds no appeal for me."
After Lao Chongyuan left, Adam Dale grew agitated, baring his teeth and glaring with anger.
"What do we have to do to get out of here? I need to find Dr. Albert King. Xu Fu, you lied to me!"
Adam Dale grabbed Xu Fu by the collar, but Xu Fu just laughed.
"Think about it. If I were lying, I wouldn't have let you stay with us so long. Haven't you forgotten your faith? If you just believe, one day you'll see it, won't you?"
Adam Dale's mood calmed. He knelt by a wall, pressed his palms together, closed his eyes devoutly, and began to mutter to himself.
"This guy seems totally clueless. Heh, but I like that."
Mr. Oblivion scooted over to Xu Fu's side.
"You must have some kind of plan, right? Next time you pull something like this, I don't want to get involved."
"Relax. That guy will definitely let us go."
Xu Fu spoke with full confidence.
At dusk, Lao Chongyuan walked alone through the streets, his mind filled with Mr. Oblivion's words—filth and depravity, things no human should do. Yet inside, he couldn't help but feel a hint of excitement.
For three years, Lao Chongyuan had suppressed his emotions. Every night before sleep, he'd wonder what in this world he'd never tried.
"Stealing..."
Suddenly, someone shouted ahead. A filthy, disheveled man burst from the crowd. Lao Chongyuan stared as, with a bang, the thief crashed right into him.
"Move, or I'll kill you."
Lao Chongyuan didn't budge. The robber turned to flee, but Lao Chongyuan kicked him and grabbed his collar. Seeing that long, thin neck, Lao Chongyuan clamped both hands around it.
Applause broke out around them, but inside Lao Chongyuan was conflicted. The man before him was nearly choking.
"Spare me, please..."
The voice faded. Lao Chongyuan could no longer see or hear. He only felt something inside him was about to burst out. His grip tightened.
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"Mr. Lowell, let go. Something's wrong with this guy."
After a while, Lao Chongyuan let go. The robber collapsed, foaming at the mouth, eyes wide, his body convulsing. Immediately, curses erupted from the crowd—serves him right. Some even kicked the man several times.
Lao Chongyuan stood quietly to the side, a trace of anger on his face.
Back home, Lao Chongyuan's hands were soaked with sweat. He still remembered the feeling of gripping that man's neck—just a bit more force and he could have snapped it.
But what that feeling truly was, Lao Chongyuan didn't know. The man only robbed for money. After Lao Chongyuan subdued him, the begging, the fear, the panic—Lao Chongyuan couldn't imagine it.
"Husband, what's wrong with you? You've looked pale these past few days."
A damp towel gently wiped Lao Chongyuan's tense face as he sat on the edge of the bed. Suddenly, his hands seized Yanrui's delicate wrist.
A cry rang out, and Lao Chongyuan finally let go. He gasped for breath as he looked at his wife, but felt no regret, not even the slightest tenderness.
"What is my true self really like?"
The night passed in silence. Lao Chongyuan barely slept, lost in thoughts about everything he'd experienced—false, insubstantial, never grounded. Why was he so desperate to taste a life so different from his own?
For three days straight, Lao Chongyuan didn't go to the basement. Each day, anxiety and unease filled him. Yanrui tried to persuade him to share his troubles, but he barely spoke a word.
At night, chilled by the wind, Lao Chongyuan staggered drunkenly down the street, alone. He wanted to leave the city, to walk it off. The strange thoughts tormenting him had become unbearable.
In the darkness, a pair of eyes watched him. Wu had investigated for days, deducing that Xu Fu and his group were held by the Lao family, because someone saw the Lao family moving things late at night when Xu Fu arrived.
"You've followed me for so long. Is there something you want?"
With a swish, Lao Chongyuan, though tipsy, reacted instantly to the sound of a sword being drawn, dodging the attack.
Wu was surprised—her first strike hadn't landed.
"What are you planning, woman?"
In the moonlight, Lao Chongyuan saw the petite but swift swordswoman before him, her twin blades flashing toward him.
Lao Chongyuan dodged again and again, now fully sober. He knew she wasn't trying to kill him—she wanted to capture him.
With a hiss, Lao Chongyuan dodged Wu's upward slash, leaving only a cut in his clothes at his chest.
"Since you have no intent to kill, there's no need to fight. Miss, is this about Xu Fu and the others?"
This was the only possibility Lao Chongyuan could think of.
Wu stopped, sheathed her swords, and glared at Lao Chongyuan.
"You seem to know a lot."
Only now did Lao Chongyuan really look at her. The woman before him had eyes devoid of emotion, her whole presence radiating a murderous aura.
"I've talked to those people for several days, so of course I know about you. So, Miss, why do you follow them?"
"To be a sword."
Lao Chongyuan let out an "Oh" and laughed.
"So you're just like them..."
"A normal person wouldn't calmly talk to an attacker like this. Your heart must be dead already."
Wu stepped up to Lao Chongyuan, poking him in the chest with her finger.
"It's still beating here, but you're already a dead man."